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Does SeaWorld have a more “pro-animal” future ahead of it?

Public pressure is mounting on Seaworld due to growing concerns about how it treats the animals under its care, and it is hurting the company’s bottom line, with profits and attendance falling.

SeaWorld’s third-quarter profits were well short of the forecasts of analysts, and some believe that the allegations of abuse and neglect of killer whales at its theme parks are to blame, according to a Christian Science Monitor report.

SeaWorld has been hammered in recent years for its supposed mistreatment of orcas and other animals. Many argue that keeping these animals confined to small spaces is tantamount to torture, and some say it is what has prompted recent deadly attack on trainers. The 2013 documentary “Blackfish” was particularly harsh on SeaWorld.

It reflects changing public attitudes about how animals are treated at theme parks like SeaWorld as well as circuses like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, which announced back in March it intended to retire its elephant act in ht next few years because many epople weren’t comfortbale with it.

There may be ripple effects to the food industry as well. The ethical treatment of animals is a now a growing consideration in how food animals are raised, with people less likely to ignore poor treatment of chickens or livestock.